GT40 Tow Hook

[Lynn Miner]

This how to is going to make a period accurate tow hook. Some on the La Mans cars of the mid sixties used these style tow hooks. They look cool, are easy to make and are very functional. Sorry for all the text up front and pictures last. I am still learning how to use the FTP loader to get the text to wrap.

For this modification you will need a length of 3/4” pipe about 4 1/4” long, a piece of 3/16” - ¼” flat stock about 4 1/4” by 3” and two pieces of 3/16 – 1/4” flat stock 1” wide and about 4 1/4” long. You will also need a hook. I found these at a local farm ranch supply store. They are used as weld on tie down hooks on farm equipment and are rated at 5000 lbs.

Start by welding a scrap of flat stock to the pipe. This is to allow you to clamp the pipe into the saw to split it down the length.

Clamp the welded piece up in your metal chop saw as shown below. Use a level as shown to get the pipe square in the saw. Perfection is not required here but the more square you make it the easier it is to put together. Note that we are not cutting down the center of the pipe. It is offset to where we are cutting off 2/3 to ¾ of the pipe. You need to cut enough that the pipe will fit over the front cross member of the car but not so much that when the finished part is made, it crushes the cross member when you clamp it down.

Discard the piece with the flat stock welded on. Now layout and weld the “half pipe” and the two 1” flat stock pieces.

Layout the large square piece with the welded piece and mark / drill the four 3/8 mounting holes. Next weld on the hook. Make certain the hook is welded squarely to the mount.

Next, I powder coated the mounting part “black wrinkle” and the hook was powder coated yellow. (see the powder coating notes found elsewhere on this web site). To mount the hook, use 5/16 stainless steel Allen head cap screws with washers and Nylock nuts.